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Half a century ago, Belgian Zoologist Bernard Heuvelmans first codified cryptozoology in his book On the Track of Unknown Animals.

The Centre for Fortean Zoology (CFZ) are still on the track, and have been since 1992. But as if chasing unknown animals wasn't enough, we are involved in education, conservation, and good old-fashioned natural history! We already have three journals, the largest cryptozoological publishing house in the world, CFZtv, and the largest cryptozoological conference in the English-speaking world, but in January 2009 someone suggested that we started a daily online magazine! The CFZ bloggo is a collaborative effort by a coalition of members, friends, and supporters of the CFZ, and covers all the subjects with which we deal, with a smattering of music, high strangeness and surreal humour to make up the mix.

It is edited by CFZ Director Jon Downes, and subbed by the lovely Lizzy Bitakara'mire (formerly Clancy), scourge of improper syntax. The daily newsblog is edited by Corinna Downes, head administratrix of the CFZ, and the indexing is done by Lee Canty and Kathy Imbriani. There is regular news from the CFZ Mystery Cat study group, and regular fortean bird news from 'The Watcher of the Skies'. Regular bloggers include Dr Karl Shuker, Dale Drinnon, Richard Muirhead and Richard Freeman.The CFZ bloggo is updated daily, and there's nothing quite like it anywhere else. Come and join us...

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Friday, August 07, 2009

Bog turtle Disease Alert From USF&WS

We were sent this by those awfully nice people at Herpdigest, and asked to pass it on...

FOR FULL ALERT WITH INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO HELP AND FURTHER INFORMATION (THERE IS A 14 PAGE PDF FILE AND SPECIMEN HISTORY FORM CONTACT THE APPROPRIATE STATE REPS LISTED BELOW.

United States Department of the InteriorFISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICEPennsylvania Field Office315 South Allen Street, Suite 322State College, Pennsylvania 16801-4850

ADVISORY BULLETINAugust 5, 2009

Over the past few months, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has received several reports ofdead and apparently diseased bog turtles from New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey andPennsylvania. The number of bog turtles found dead in their wetland habitat (2 to 4 dead turtles in each of four wetlands in NY and MA) exceeds that which is typically reported.In some cases, dead bog turtles have been found entirely intact, with no obvious cause of death.On several live bog turtles, a grayish or whitish substance and/or discoloration has beendocumented on the skin of the head, neck and limbs, as well as on the claws. In some cases,these appear as skin lesions. Scute sloughing and loss of claws and toes has also been observed.Based on data collected at a Massachusetts site, the symptoms appear to worsen over time.At this time, the causative agent(s) of the observed symptoms has not been identified. However,considering the risk this poses to bog turtles and potentially to bog turtle populations, the Serviceis taking this matter seriously, and is seeking the voluntary cooperation of bog turtle surveyorsand researchers in implementing the following guidance, effective immediately:

1. Collect, label, and ship fresh-dead bog turtles1 to the U.S. Geological Survey,National Wildlife Health Center in accordance with the attached Specimen HistoryForm and Shipping Instructions. Also, ship fresh-dead turtles of any species fromknown bog turtle sites according to the same protocol. Do not send any species ofturtle that appears to have no retained internal organs.

a. The collection and shipment of dead bog turtles is authorized under theEndangered Species Act, pursuant to the "Emergency Provisions" of Section 6Cooperative Agreements the Service has in place with the various State wildlifeagencies in the northern range of the bog turtle. Under these emergencyprovisions, "Any employee or agent of the Division who is designated by thatAgency for such purposes, may, when acting in the course of his official duties,take federally-listed Endangered and Threatened fish or wildlife species without apermit if such action is necessary to: (1) aid a sick, injured, or orphanedspecimen; or (2) dispose of a dead specimen; or (3) salvage a dead specimenwhich may be useful for scientific study . . ."

1 This refers to fresh-dead turtles whose cause of death is unknown (e.g., do not ship road-killed turtles). Partiallyscavenged, fresh-dead turtles should be sent in for analysis, because one cannot confidently conclude that predationwas the actual cause of death (i.e., the cause of death is unknown).

b. Complete the attached Turtle Data Sheet (or a similar data sheet that records thesame information) and USGS Specimen History Form. When the specimen isshipped, provide an email notification and attach copies of both completed formsto: the Service's Pennsylvania Field Office (Carole Copeyon), the Service'sRegional Office (Alison Whitlock), the Fish and Wildlife Service point-of-contactin your State, and the appropriate State agency point-of-contact2.

c. Fresh-dead specimens should be shipped for overnight delivery on a Monday,Tuesday or Wednesday to ensure they will arrive during the same work week atthe National Wildlife Health Center. If a specimen is shipped on Thursday orFriday, it will not arrive and be unpacked until the following week, well after thepacking ice has melted. Therefore, fresh-dead animals collected Thursday-Sunday should be frozen until Monday shipping. Alternatively, if shipping late inthe week is warranted, contact the National Wildlife Health Center FieldInvestigation Team to arrange for a special Saturday delivery. See shippinginstructions for details. Be sure to include both the Turtle Data Sheet andUSGS Specimen History Form with your shipment to the National WildlifeHealth Center.

d. Unless otherwise specified, the National Wildlife Health Center will ship bogturtle specimens originating from Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York tothe American Museum of Natural History in New York, and will ship specimensoriginating from Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey and Delaware to theSmithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.

2. Collect, label and ship other bog turtle carcasses and shells (i.e., the ones that areNOT fresh-dead) to your State wildlife agency, in accordance with State ScientificCollector's Permit conditions. Complete the attached Specimen History Form andTurtle Data Sheet and provide copies to the Service's Pennsylvania Field Office andthe appropriate State wildlife agency biologist (see list).

3. Provide information to the Service's Pennsylvania Field Office regarding:a. Any dead, diseased or apparently unhealthy bog turtles you have found;b. Any dead, diseased or apparently unhealthy turtles of any species at known bogturtle sites; andc. Multiple instances of mortality or disease of any turtle species in the same year atany wetland site.To the best of your recollection, please indicate the year in which these turtles werefound, as well as the number, condition (live, fresh-dead, shell only, shell with flesh,etc.), location (state, county, lat/long), and symptoms.

4. At bog turtle sites, carefully examine live bog turtles (as well as turtles of otherspecies) found during your routine field surveys and/or research activities. Document2 Contact information for USFWS and State agency biologists is attached to this bulletin.2any abnormalities3 on bog turtles via close-up photographs and complete the attachedTurtle Data Sheet. Submit the data sheet and photographs to the Service'sPennsylvania Field Office. If there is a telemetry study occurring at the site where theaffected bog turtle was found, we recommend placing a transmitter on the affectedturtle(s) and 1) photo-documenting the affected area(s) of the body every 1 to 4weeks, and 2) collecting relevant health data (e.g., body weight, notes regarding anynasal or eye discharges, etc.). Similar information should be collected and reportedon other turtle species that appear to be diseased at known bog turtle sites. Pleasenote whether the site is flooded and provides little in the way of basking sites forturtles.

5. At this time, we are NOT recommending that live, affected bog turtles be removedfrom their wetland habitat.

6. Do NOT euthanize any bog turtles.

7. Do NOT collect tissue samples from live bog turtles without specific Fish and Wildlife Service authorization.

8. Disinfect equipment and clothing to reduce the risk of spreading the agent(s)responsible for the observed mortality and disease. See the attached DisinfectionProtocol for Bog Turtle Field Research, Surveys and Monitoring (August 2009).Field biologists play a vital role in the early detection of incidents of wildlife mortality anddisease. The Service extends its sincere thanks for your cooperation in implementing thisguidance.

3 In this case, "abnormalities" refers to those that appear to be related to disease or infection. However, also note instances of missing toes, whether they are healed over or not.

1 comment:

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